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Page 241
said, a token of affection from Alinor's vassals and castellans.
The pieces were hilarious. All, of course, dealt with marriage, and not too kindly, but the ultimate was one about a domineering woman who produced disaster after disaster with unfailing regularity, which her patient husband repaired with equally unfailing ingenuity.
"How do they dare?" Lady Llewelyn hissed across Alinor's convulsed husband to the new-made, maligned wife.
But Alinor was laughing as heartily as anyone else. She knew they dared out of love and trust. Those who wished to shake off her domination were not here. Every man who had come knew he would be expected to renew his vows of fealty publicly before three bishops, the king's half brother, and the greatest soldier England had, as well as before his brother vassals and castellans, who would thereby be sworn to join with his lady to punish him if he violated those vows. The ceremony was set for the following day, when all the guests would still be present. Some would linger for a few days or even a week more, but many had pressing business and would leave as soon as the swearing was over.
Through the whole day and the evening when, because Ian could not dance, he spent his time hobbling from group to group to soothe drunken quarrels, there was not a cloud on his brow. Moment by moment, he saw his fulfillment draw nearer. No doubt that Alinor grieved for Simon darkened Ian's mind, nor had he missed her genuine eagerness for the consummation of their marriage despite her resistance to a premature coupling. It was not until he saw the great ladies approaching Alinor to start the bedding ceremony that apprehension touched him.
It was not that Ian doubted his skill as a lover in a general way. He knew he was well able to satisfy any normally passionate woman, and he was quite sure

 
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